Bill Doggett - Gon' Doggett

Side One:
01. Honky Tonk Part 1
02. Honky Tonk Part 2
03. Big Boy
04. Slidin'
05. Buttered Popcorn
06. Backwoods
07. Slow Walk

Side Two:
08. Quaker City
09. Night Train
10. Ram-Bunk-Shush
11. Peacock Alley
12. Hold It
13. Rainbow Riot Parts 1 & 2

Download here

I thought I'd keep the organ combo vibe going with this LP which I recently picked up second hand in a shop in Glasgow's newest hipster quarter, Strathbungo. Over the years I've acquired a few Bill Doggett albums on vinyl and CD and I have to say that I've usually had mixed feelings about Bill's music having found some of it a bit too "poppy" not to say downright schmalzy, especially the tracks that featured a flute. However, I'm absolutely delighted with this LP. The compiler, Danny Adler, has done a stand up job on this collection which is a fine selection of red hot organ / sax / guitar combo rhythm 'n' blues.

On these tracks Bill's organ stays mainly in the background, working with drummer Shep Shepherd and bassist Edwyn Conley to provide great backing to the outstanding Clifford Scott and Billy Butler on tenor sax and electric guitar respectively.The tracks were recorded for King Records over a period of almost five years, so there is some variation in personnel. Full details of who was on what track plus original release details are listed below.

It's all killer, no filler. Download for that authentic funky R&B club experience.

Recording and original release details:

"Quaker City", recorded in Cincinnati on March 23rd 1955. Personnel: Frank Heppinstall (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Al Lucas (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as single King 4808 (b/w "True Blue") in June 1955.

"Honky Tonk Parts 1 & 2" was recorded in NYC on June 16th 1956. Personnel: Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Carl Pruitt (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as a two parter on single King 4950 in July 1956.

"Peacock Alley", recorded in Cincinnati on October 12th 1956. Personnel: Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); John Faire (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as single King 5001 (B Side of "Honky Tonk Vocal Version") in December 1956.

"Big Boy" and "Slow Walk", recorded in Cincinnati on October 29th 1956. Personnel as on "Peacock Alley" plus Tommy Brown (maracas, claves)

"Slow Walk" released as single King 5000 (b/w "Hand In Hand") in November 1956.

"Big Boy" released as single King 5339 (b/w "Smoochie") in April 1960.

"Ram-Bunk-Shush", recorded in Cincinnati on December 21st 1956. Personnel: Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as single King 5020 (b/w "Blue Largo") in January 1957.

"Hold It", recorded in Cincinnati on June 17th 1958. Personnel: Lawrence "Tricky" Lofton (trombone); Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Floyd "Candy" Johnson (tenors and baritone saxes); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as single King 5149 (b/w "Birdie") in September 1958.

"Rainbow Riot", recorded in NYC on September 23rd, 1958. Personnel as on "Hold It" except Carl Pruitt replaces Edwyn Conley on bass.

First released as a two parter on single King 5159 in November 1958.

"Backwoods", recorded in Cincinnati on April 10th 1959. Personnel: Glenn Childers (trombone); Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Floyd "Candy" Johnson (baritone sax); Ray Felder (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Calvin Shields (drums)

A six minute version was released in 1959 on King LP 667 "On Tour." The track was called "Backwards" on the front and back covers, but "Backwoods" on the disc label. A three minute version was released on the single King 5319 (B Side of "Raw Turkey") in February 1960. Title on single was "Back Woods."

"Slidin'" was recorded in Cincinnati on August 19th 1959. Personnel as for "Backwoods" but trombone out.

"Slidin'" was released on single King 5419 (B Side of "Afternoon Jump") in November 1960.

"Buttered Popcorn" was recorded in Cincinnati on May 24th 1960. Personnel: Clifford Scott, Ray Felder (tenor saxes); Floyd "Candy" Johnson (baritone sax); Bill Doggett (organ);
Billy Butler (guitar); Bill Wills (bass) Alvin Johnson (drums)

"Buttered Popcorn" was released on single King 5364 (B Side of "The Slush") in June 1960.

"Night Train" was recorded in Cincinnati on December 12th 1959. Personnel: Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Candy "Floyd" Johnson (baritone sax); Ray Felder (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ ); Billy Butler (guitar); David Horine (bass); Calvin Shields (drums)

"Night Train" was recorded as a two parter, with both parts featuring on the 1960 LP "Back Again With More Bill Doggett" (King LP 723) and on the similarly titled 1960 King EP (King KSS-7-723).

A two parter single "Night Train Parts 1 and 2" was released on King 5878 in April 1964.

Elsewhere on the blog:

"Hot Doggett" LP donated by anonymous donor. Posted here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/bill-doggett-lp-re-upped-hot-doggett.html

Some Bill Dogget CD covers, including 2 which reproduce original 50s artwork:

Mo' King Records reissue vinyl in the pipeline. Stay tuned, you rockin' rhythm fans.